Published by Term Insurance Brokers — an independent brokerage licensed in 35+ states, representing 30+ top-rated carriers. Updated May 15, 2026.
Quick Answer: Life insurance underwriters look at non-health factors — criminal record, driving history, bankruptcy, occupation, and hobbies — because each correlates with statistical mortality risk. A clean driving record, no recent felonies, no active probation, no current bankruptcy, and no high-risk occupations or hobbies (skydiving, race-car driving, war-zone work) generally won’t affect rates. Issues in any of these areas may raise premiums or, in some cases, require a specialty/high-risk carrier.
Why Do Life Insurance Underwriters Look at Non-Health Factors?
Life insurance pricing is built on actuarial statistics. Mortality risk isn’t only driven by health — lifestyle, behavior, occupation, and financial stability all correlate with life expectancy. Insurers use these data points to predict whether you’re statistically more or less likely to die during the policy term, and price accordingly.
What Non-Health Factors Affect Life Insurance Underwriting?
1. Criminal Record
People with criminal records tend to have shorter life expectancies on average, but the underwriting view depends heavily on the type and recency of the offense:
- Old, non-violent offenses (e.g., a 20-year-old drug charge with no recent issues): usually no impact.
- Recent violent felonies: may prevent coverage entirely.
- Active probation or parole: almost always an automatic decline at traditionally underwritten carriers — because of the risk of return to incarceration and associated mortality concerns.
- DUI/DWI history: typically affects driving record review more than criminal review; may result in table rating.
2. Driving Record
Underwriters pull motor vehicle records (MVR) on virtually every applicant. They look at:
- Moving violations in the past 3–5 years.
- At-fault accidents within the past 3 years.
- DUI/DWI — typically results in postponement (often 2–5 years) or table rating.
- License suspensions and revocations.
- Reckless driving charges.
One or two minor infractions usually have no impact; a pattern of violations or any DUI is a different conversation.
3. Bankruptcy and Financial History
Your credit score itself is not used in underwriting, but bankruptcy is. Underwriters look at:
- Type of bankruptcy (Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13).
- When it was discharged — most carriers want at least 1–2 years post-discharge before issuing new coverage.
- Whether you’re currently in active bankruptcy proceedings — typically a postponement.
- Current income and employment stability.
Bankruptcy doesn’t disqualify you — but it does trigger additional review, especially around fraud risk (insurers are cautious about applicants who may be purchasing coverage for reasons related to financial distress).
4. Occupation
Most jobs have no underwriting impact. Higher-risk occupations that do affect rates include:
- Active military deployment to combat zones
- Civilian contracting in active war zones
- Commercial fishing (especially crab/deep-sea)
- Logging, oil rig work, and structural ironwork
- Pilots (rates vary widely by type — commercial vs private vs aerobatic)
- Underwater welding, mining, demolition
Most healthcare workers (including nurses), teachers, office workers, tradespeople, and remote workers see no occupational impact on their rate class.
5. Hobbies and Avocations
Carriers ask about high-risk hobbies on the application. Examples that often draw underwriting attention:
- Private aviation (especially aerobatic or experimental aircraft)
- Scuba diving beyond recreational depths
- Skydiving and BASE jumping
- Race-car driving and motor sports competition
- Rock climbing and mountaineering (especially above 4,000m)
These don’t automatically disqualify you, but they often add a flat extra premium (e.g., $2.50 per $1,000 of coverage per year) rather than a percentage-based table rating.
How Much Do These Non-Health Factors Affect Your Premium?
The impact varies by factor and by carrier:
| Factor | Typical Impact |
|---|---|
| 1 minor moving violation in past 3 years | No impact |
| 2–3 moving violations in past 3 years | Table 1–3 rating |
| DUI in past 5 years | Postpone or Table 4–6 |
| Bankruptcy discharged 2+ years ago | Usually no impact |
| Active bankruptcy | Postpone until discharged |
| Skydiving (current, regular) | Flat extra $2–$5 per $1,000 coverage |
| Private pilot, <500 hours | Flat extra or Table 1–2 |
What Should You Do If You Have a Non-Health Issue?
If you have a criminal record, DUI history, recent bankruptcy, or high-risk hobby/occupation, work with an independent broker who can pre-screen your case with underwriters informally before a formal application is submitted. Different carriers have very different appetites — and applying to the wrong carrier wastes time and creates MIB records that follow future applications.
Key Takeaways
- Underwriters look at non-health factors because they correlate with statistical mortality risk.
- Criminal record, driving history, bankruptcy, occupation, and hobbies are the five main non-health factors.
- Active probation, recent DUI, current bankruptcy, and combat-zone work are the most common deal-breakers — but specialty carriers exist for nearly every situation.
- Most minor issues (one moving violation, an old bankruptcy, a recreational hobby) have no rate impact.
- Carrier selection matters enormously for non-standard cases — work with an independent broker.
Get a Free Quote
If you have any non-health underwriting concerns, we can pre-screen your case across 30+ top-rated carriers before any formal application is submitted. Call 1-888-972-0024 or request an instant quote online.